USA > Ohio > Historical collections of Ohio, containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, etc., relating to its general and local history : with descriptions of its counties, principal towns, and villages > Part 33
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We have heard of the death of but two individuals, Mr. John Harding and Mr. William Aulsbrook ; the former, a man of family, the latter, a single man. They were in the em- ploy of Mr. William Tift, of this city, and lost their lives in endeavoring to keep the water out of his cellar. While at work the back wall of the building gave way-the cellar filled in an instant, and they were unable to get out. They both were very worthy men.
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The water extended over about thirty-five squares of the thickly settled part of the city, from John street on the west, to Deer creek on the east, and north to Lower Market and Pearl streets. The distance of about a mile west of John street was likewise submerged This part of the city, however, is but thinly settled.
The amount of damage sustained by merchants, owners of improved real estate and others cannot be correctly ascertained. Many houses have floated away, a great num ber have moved from their foundations and turned over ; many walls have settled so as to injure the houses materially ; and a great quantity of lumber and other property has floated off. The large bridge over the mouth of Mill creek floated away, and that over Deer creek is much injured. Thousands and tens of thousands of dollars worth of dry goods groceries, &c., have been destroyed or materially injured. Business of almost every de- scription was stopped ; money became scarce, and wood and flour enormously high.
Active measures were taken by the citizens for the relief of the sufferers. A town meeting was held at the council chiamiber, on the 15th inst. G. W. Jones was appointed chairman, and Samuel H. Goodin, secretary. On motion, a committee of 15 (3 from a ward) was appointed to take up collections for the relief of the sufferers, consisting of the following persons: E. Hulse, N. G. Pendleton, E. C. Smith, J. W. Gazlay, Jno. Wood, G. W. Jones, W. G. Orr, W. Holmes, A. Owen, P. Britt, J. Resor, O. Lovell and G. C. Miller.
A committee of vigilance was also appointed, whose duty it was to remove persons and goods surrounded with water. The following persons composed that committee : J. Pierce, Wm. Phillips, Saml. Fosdick, Wm. Stephenson, Chas. Fox, Henry Tatem, I. A. Butter- field, Jas. M'Intire, N. M. Whittemore, M. Coffin, Jas. M'Lean, J. Aumack, J. D. Gar- rard, A. G. Dodd and Fullom Perry.
T. D. Carneal, J. M. Mason, J. C. Avery, Chas. Fox and R. Buchanan were appointed a committee to procure shelter for those whose houses were rendered untenable. On mo- tion, it was resolved that persons who may need assistance, be requested to make applica- tion to the council chamber, where members of the committee of vigilance shall rendezvous, and where one or more shall at all times remain for the purpose of affording relief. At a subsequent meeting, 20 were added to the committee of vigilance.
It gives us pleasure to state, that the members of the foregoing committees most faith- fully discharged their respective duties. A provision house was opened by the committee of vigilance, on Fourth street, where meats, bread, wood, clothes, &c., were liberally given to all who applied. The ladies supported their well-known character for benevolence, by contributing clothing and food to the sufferers. The committee appointed to collect funds, found the citizens liberal in their donations. All who had vacant houses and rooms, cheer- fully appropriated them to the use of those made houseless. Public buildings, school houses, and basement stories of churches, were appropriated to this purpose. Mr. Brown of the ampitheatre, Mr. Franks, proprietor of the gallery of paintings, Mr. R. Letton, proprietor of the Museum, appropriated the entire proceeds of their houses, the first, on the night of 17th ; the second, on the 18th, and the third, on that of the 20th, for the relief of the suf- ferers. The Beethoven society of sacred music also gave a concert for the same purpose, in the second Presbyterian church, on Fourth street, on the night of the 24th.
Destruction of the Philanthropist newspaper printing office by a mob, July 30th, 1836. -The paper had then been published in Cincinnati about three months, and was edited by James G. Birney. As early as the 14th of July, the press room was broken open and the press and materials defaced and destroyed. July 23d, a meeting of citizens was convened at the Lower Market house " to decide whether they will permit the publication or distribution of abolition papers in this city." This meeting appointed a committee, who opened a cor- respondence with the conductors of that print-the executive committee of the Ohio anti- slavery society-requesting them to discontinue its publication. This effort being unsuc- cessful, the committee of citizens published the correspondence, to which they appended a resolution, in one clause of which they stated, " That in discharging their duties, they have used all the measures of persuasion and conciliation in their power. That their exertions have not been successful, the above correspondence will show. It only remains, then, in pursuance of their instructors, to publish their proceedings and adjourn without day. But ere they do this, they owe it themselves, and those whom they represent, to express their utmost abhorrence of every thing like violence ; and earnestly to implore their fellow citi- zens to abstain therefrom." The sequel is thus given by a city print.
On Saturday night, July 30th, very soon after dark a, concourse of citizens assembled at the corner of Main and Seventh streets, in this city, and upon a short consultation, broke open the printing office of the Philanthropist, the abolition paper, scattered the type into the
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streets, tore down the presses and completely dismantled the office. It was owned by A. Pugh, a peaceable and orderly printer, who printed the Philanthropist for the anti-slavery society of Ohio. From the printing office, the crowd went to the house of A. Pugh, where they supposed there were other printing materials, but found none, nor offered any violence. Then to the Messrs. Donaldson's, where only ladies were at home. The residence of Mr. Birney, the editor, was then visited ; no person was at home, but a youth, upon whose explanations the house was left undisturbed. A shout was raised for Dr. Colby's ; and the concourse returned to Main street, proposed to pile up the contents of the office in the street and make a bonfire of them. A gentleman mounted the pile, and advised against burn- ing it, lest the houses near might take fire. A portion of the press was then dragged down Main street, broken up and thrown into the river. The Exchange was then visited and refreshments taken. After which, the concourse again went up Main street, to about opposite the Gazette office. Some suggestions were hinted that it should be demolished, but the hint was overruled. An attack was then made upon the residence of some blacks, in Church alley ; two guns were fired upon the assailants and they recoiled. It was sup- posed that one man was wounded, but that was not the case. It was some time before a rally could again be made, several voices declaring they did not wish to endanger them- selves. A second attack was made, the houses found empty and their interior contents de- stroyed. . On the afternoon of Aug. 2d, pursuant to a call, a very large and respect- able meeting of citizens met at the court house, and passed a series of resolutions, the first of which was " that this meeting deeply regret the cause of the recent occurrences, and en- tirely disapprove of mobs, or other unlawful assemblages." The concluding resolution was approbatory of the course of the colonization society, and expressed an opinion that it was " the only method of getting clear of slavery."
Riot of September, 1841 .- This city has been in a most alarming condition for several days ; and from until 8 o'clock on Friday evening, until 3 o'clock yesterday [Sunday] morning, almost entirely at the mercy of a lawless mob, ranging in number from 200 to - 1500.
On Tuesday evening last, as we are informed, a quarrel took place on the corner of Sixth street and Broadway, between a party of Irishmen and some negroes : some two or three of each party were wounded. On Wednesday night, the quarrel was renewed in some way, and sometime after midnight a party of excited men, armed with clubs, &c., at- tacked a house occupied as a negro boarding-house on Macalister street, demanding the surrender of a negro, whom they said was secreted in the house, and uttering the most violent threats against the house and the negroes in general. Several of the adjoining houses were occupied by negro families. The violence increased and was resisted by those in or about the houses-an engagement took place, in which several were wounded on each side. On Thursday night, another rencontre took place in the neighborhood of the Lower Market, between some young men and boys and some negroes, in which one or two boys were badly wounded, as was supposed, with knives. On Friday evening, before 8 o'clock, a mob, the principal organization of which, we understand, took place in Kentucky, openly assembled in Fifth street market, unmolested by the police or citizens. They marched from their rendezvous towards Broadway and Sixth street, armed with clubs, stones, &c. Reaching the scene of operations with shouts and blasphemous imprecations, they attacked a negro confectionary in Broadway, next to the synagogue, and demolished the doors and windows. This attracted an immense crowd. About this time, before 9 o'clock, they were addressed by J. W. Piatt, who exorted them to peace and obedience to the law; but his voice was drowned by shouts and throwing of stones. The Mayor also attempted to ad- dress them. The savage yell was instantly raised : " down with him ! run him off !" were shouted and intermixed with horrid imprecations and exhortations to the mob to move on- ward. A large portion of the leading disturbers appeared to be strangers-some connected with river navigation and backed by boat hands of the lowest order. They advanced to the attack with stones, &c., and were repeatedly fired upon by the negroes. The mob scattered, but immediately rallied again, and again were in like manner repulsed. Men were wounded on both sides and carried off-and many reported dead. The negroes ral- lied several times, advanced upon the crowd, and most unjustifiably fired down the street into it, causing a great rush down the street. These things were repeated until past 1 o'clock, when a party procured an iron six pounder from near the river, loaded with boiler punchings, &c., and hauled it to the ground, against the exhortations of the mayor and others. It was posted on Broadway and pointed down Sixth street. The yells continued,
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but there was a partial cessation of firing. Many of the negroes had fled to the hills. The attack upon the houses was recommenced with the firing of guns upon both sides, which continued during most of the night; and exaggerated rumors of the killed and wounded filled the streets. The cannon was discharged several times. About 2 o'clock, a portion of the military, upon the call of the mayor, proceeded to the scene of disorder and suc- ceeded in keeping the mob at bay. In the morning, and throughout the day, several blocks, including the battle-ground, were surrounded with sentinels and kept under martial law,-keeping within the negroes there, and adding to them such as were brought in during the day for protection.
A meeting of citizens was held at the court house on Saturday morning, at which the mayor presided. This meeting was addressed by the mayor and others, and a series of resolutions passed discountenancing mobs-invoking the aid of the civil authorities to stay the violence, repudiating the doctrines of the abolitionists, etc., etc. The city council also held a special session, to concert measures to vindicate the majesty of the law and restore peace to the city. Intense excitement continued during the day, the mob and their leaders boldly occupying the streets without arrest. The negroes held a meeting in a church, and respectfully assured the mayor and citizens, that they would use every effort to conduct as orderly citizens, to suppress imprudent conduct among their own people, etc., etc. They expressed their readiness to conform to the law of 1807, and give bond, or to leave within a specified time-and tendered their thanks to the mayor, watch, officers and gentlemen of the city, for the efforts made to save their property, their lives, their wives and children.
At 3 P. M., the mayor, sheriff, marshall and a portion of the police, proceeded to the battle-ground, and there, under the protection of the military, though in the presence of the mob, and so far controlled by them, as to prevent the taking away of any negroes upon their complying with the law. Several of the negroes gave bond and obtained permis- sion to go away with their sureties, who were some of our most respectable citizens, but were headed even within the military sentinels, and compelled to return within the ground. It was resolved then to embody the male negroes, and march them to jail for se- curity, under the protection of the civil and military authority. From 250 to 300 were accordingly escorted to that place with difficulty, surrounded by the military and officers, and a dense mass of men, women and boys, confounding all distinction between the or- derly and disorderly, accompanied with deafening yells. They were safely lodged, and still remain in prison, separated from their families. The crowd was in that way dis- persed.
The succeeding night, the military were ordered out, the firemen were out, clothed with authority as a police band. About eighty citizens enrolled themselves as assistants of the marshall. A troop of horse, and several companies of volunteer infantry continued on duty, until near midnight. Some were then permitted to sleep upon their arms ; others re- mained on duty until morning, guarding the jail, &c.
As was anticipated, the mob efficiently organized, early commenced operations, dividing their force and making their attacks at different points, thus distracting the attention of the police. The first successful onset was made upon the printing office of the Philanthropist. They succeeded in entering the establishment, breaking up the press, and running with it amid savage yells, down through Main street to the river into which it was thrown. The military appeared in the alley near the office, interrupting the mob for a short time. They escaped through the bye-ways, and when the military retired, returned to their work of de- struction in the office, which they completed. Several houses were broken open in different parts of the city, occupied by negroes, and the windows, doors and furniture completely de- stroyed. Among these was the negro church on Sixth street. One of their last efforts was to fire or otherwise destroy the book establishment of Messrs. Truman & Smith, on Main street. From this they were driven by the police, and soon after, before daylight, dispersed from mere exhaustion.
It is impossible to learn either the number of killed and wounded on either side, proba- bly several were killed and twenty or thirty variously wounded, though but few danger- ously. Several of the citizen-police were hurt with stones, &c .; the authorities succeeded in arresting about forty of the mob, who are now in prison. The mob was in many cases encouraged and led on by persons from Kentucky. About 11 o'clock on Saturday night, a bonfire was lighted on that side of the river, and loud shouts sent up, as if a great triumph had been achieved. In some cases the motions of the mob were directed and managed by mere boys, who suggested the points of attack, put the vote, declared the result and led the way! After all the negro men had been disarmed and committeed to prison for safe keeping, under a solemn pledge that their wives and children should be protected, a band
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of white men were permitted to renew their brutal attacks upon these females and chil- dren. The excitement continued yesterday. The governor, who had arrived in town, issued his proclamation. The citizens rallied with spirit to aid the city authorities. Strong patroles of military and citizens, last night, prevented any further outbreak.
Bank Mob, Jan. 11, 1842 .- Monday evening, the Miami Exporting Company Bank as- signed its effects, and on Tuesday morning, (Jan. 11,) the bank of Cincinnati closed doors. Early in the morning, the crowd, in consequence of their failures, began to collect around the doors of these institutions, and by 11 o'clock, had broken into them, destroying all the movable property and whatever of books or papers could be laid hold of. About this time, ten of the city guards, headed by their brave captain, Mitchell, appeared, drove the rioters away, and, for a time, gallantly maintained their position; but they were called off. On retiring, they were assailed-they fired, and wounded some one or two persons. The mob had, with this exception, undisputed possession of the city, and commenced, first an attack upon Babes' Exchange Bank, and after that, upon Lougee's exchange office, both of which they destroyed, making havock of every thing which was at all destructible.
Distressing Fire, Feb. 28th, 1843 .- On Saturday morning, about 5 o'clock, a fire broke out in the smoke-house of Messrs. Pugh & Alvord, at the corner of Walnut street and the canal, which, in its consequences, has been one of the most distressing that ever occurred in this city. The smoke-house was in the rear, and somewhat detached from the main build- ing, being connected with it only by a wooden door and narrow passage-way, through which the meat was usually wheeled. It was thought the fire could be confined to the former, and for that purpose the pork-house was closed as tight as possible, by shutting all the doors and windows, to exclude a rush of air to feed the flames. In the course of half an hour, the main building was filled with smoke, rarified air and inflammable gas from the smoke- house ; and when the flames burst through the wooden door connecting the two buildings, an instantaneous roar of flame was perceived, and in the twinkling of an eye, the whole of this spacious, substantial building was a mass of ruins. The whole roof was lifted in the air and thrown into the streets in large fragments-the second story walls, on the north and south sides, were thrown down, and the whole eastern end of both stories fronting on Wal- nut street, blown into the streets from its foundation up. The appearance of the explosion was awfully terrific, and its consequences fatal to several of our most estimable citizens. We annex the names of the killed and severely wounded, as far as we can now ascertain them. Killed-Joseph Bonsall, Caleb W. Taylor, H. S. Edmands, J. S. Chamberlain, H. O. Merrill, John Ohe, a German laborer, with two or three other German laborers. Wounded severely-George Shillito, H. Thorpe, T. S. Shaeffer, Mr. Alvord, (of the firm of Pugh & Alvord,) Samuel Schooley, Warren G. Finch, John Blakemore, Lewis Wisby, John M. Vansickle, Joseph Trefts, A. Oppenhermer, Jas. Tryatt, Robt. Rice, William H. Goodloe.
A few minutes before the explosion, the smoke settled to the ground around the corner of the building, on the canal and Walnut street fronts, which caused the removal of the masses of people which filled those spaces, unconscious of danger. But for this, the force of the ex- plosion being in that direction, the destruction of life would have been frightfully extensive.
On Sunday morning, a special meeting of the city council was called, and in obedience to one of the resolutions passed, the mayor issued a proclamation, requesting the citizens to suspend their business on Monday, the 27th inst., and attend the funerals of the deceased. On Monday, the court of common pleas adjourned for this purpose, shops were closed, and the business of the day was set aside. The bells were tolled, and little was done save to aid in performing the last sad rites of the dead. They had fallen in the public service, and the public mind was anxious to testify to their virtues and bespeak the sorrow felt for the com- mon loss. Never, indeed, did we ever observe a deeper solemnity than pervaded the im- mense masses who attended the funeral services of Chamberlain and Edmands. Close around their biers, pressed the brave firemen who had stood by their side whenever their common services were required ; and as the men of God lifted up their voices in prayer, and spoke of the virtues of the dead, their emotion was too strong to be suppressed ; and as they stood at the altar and the grave, they gave strong utterance to their own and the public sorrow. And thus were these useful citizens and worthy men borne to their long home,
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The engraving shows the old Baptist church, at Columbia, as it ap- peared in 1830, even to the loose weather-board- ing. It was taken down in 1835, but we have not the date of its erection. The engraving is copied from one in the Ameri- can Pioneer, where it is stated that this was the first house of worship built in Ohio, which, from some evidence produ- ced below, we think is an error. The society which worshipped in it, was constituted in 1790, by Dr. Stephen Gano.
We have previously Old Baptist Church at Columbia. slightly noticed the his- tory of the settlement at Columbia, the second in Ohio, and now present, in addition, some reminiscences from the narrative of the late O. M. Spencer, who was there as early as December, 1790.
It is, perhaps, unknown to many, that the broad and extensive plain stretching along the Ohio from the Crawfish to the mouth, and for three miles up the Little Miami, and now divided into farms, highly cultivated, was the ancient site of Columbia, a town laid out by Major Benjamin Stites, its original proprietor ; and by him and others once expected to be- come a large city, the great capital of the west. From Crawfish, the small creek forming its northwestern boundary, more than one mile up the Ohio, and extending back about three-fourths of a mile, and half way up the high hill which formed a part of its eastern and northern limits, the ground was laid off into blocks, containing each eight lots of half an acre, bounded by streets intersected at right angles. The residue of the plain was divided into lots of four and five acres, for the accommodation of the town. Over this plain, on our arrival, we found scattered about fifty cabins, flanked by a small stockade nearly half a mile below the mouth of the Miami, together with a few block-houses for the protection of the inhabitants, at suitable distances along the bank of the Ohio.
Fresh in my remembrance is the rude log-house, the first humble sanctuary of the first settlers of Columbia, standing amidst the tall forest trees, on the beautiful knoll, where now [1834] is a grave-yard, and the ruins of a Baptist meeting-house of later years. There, on the holy Sabbath, we were wont to assemble to hear the word of life ; but our fathers met, with their muskets and rifles, prepared for action, and ready to repel any attack of the enemy. And while the watchman on the walls of Zion was uttering his faithful and pa- thetic warning, the sentinels without, at a few rods distance, with measured step, were now pacing their walks, and now standing and with strained eyes endeavoring to pierce through the distance, carefully scanning every object that seemed to have life or motion.
The first clergyman I there heard preach was Mr. Gano, father of the late Gen. Gano, of this city, then a captain, and one of the earliest settlers of Columbia. Never shall I forget that holy and venerable man, with locks white with years, as with a voice tremulous with age, he ably expounded the word of truth.
I well recollect, that in 1791, so scarce and dear was flour, that the little that could be afforded in families, was laid by to be used only in sickness, or for the entertainment of
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friends ; and although corn was then abundant, there was but one mill, (Wickerham's,) a floating mill, on the Little Miami, near where Turpin's now [1834] stands : it was built in a small flat boat tied to the bank, its wheel turning slowly with the natural current running between the flat and a small pirogue anchored in the stream, and on which one end of its shaft rested ; and having only one pair of small stones, it was at best barely sufficient to supply ineal for the inhabitants of Columbia and the neighboring families ; and sometimes, from low water and other unfavorable circumstances, it was of little use, so that we were obliged to supply the deficiency from hand-mills, a most laborious mode of grinding.
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